By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD City – The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO) here is probing a complaint for alleged indiscriminate firing against a non-commissioned police officer assigned to Silay City Police Station on New Year’s Eve, Dec 31, 2020.
According to Major Jigger Gimeno, chief of Talisay City Police Station, the complaint stemmed from the misunderstanding between the cop and his neighbor in Barangay Zone 12-A.
Gimeno said the 50-year-old complainant, whose name was withheld by police upon his request, was on his way home when the cop’s car blocked his way.
The complainant honked so many times that the policeman confronted him, leading to a heated altercation, Gimeno said.
Gimeno said they were pacified but they figured in another argument that night that led them to file their respective complaints at the police station.
Gimeno said the complainant’s child saw the cop allegedly firing his gun after their argument.
The complainant reported the cop for alleged indiscriminate firing, while the cop accused the former of allegedly insulting him.
Gimeno said he already wrote a letter to Major Rollie Pondevilla, chief of Silay City Police Station, informing him about the incident and the complaint against one of his personnel.
Gimeno also wrote a letter to the cop with the rank of Police Executive Master Sergeant, ordering him to surrender his firearm, if indeed he did not use it on New Year’s Eve. But as of yesterday, the cop has yet to surrender his firearm.
Gimeno said no bullets or empty shells recovered from the scene, thus they need to check the cop’s firearm to help them with the investigation. Gimeno also said that the cop and the complainant had grudges against each other,
Meanwhile, Lieutenant Abegael Donasco, NOCPPO’s deputy public information officer, said it was not confirmed yet if there was indeed an indiscriminate firing that happened.
“Ngayon po hindi pa na sampahan ng kaso kasi wala pang evidence to prove na ginawa niya po iyon,” she added.
Donasco said the cop is still reporting for duty at the police station, pending the progress of the investigation.
